Child / Dependant Visa

The Child/Dependant visa is preferred for an individual (in most cases under 18) who wants to reside in the UK with their parent(s) who is either a British citizen or a settled person in the UK, applying for settlement in the UK, living in the UK with their partner on family visa or on work visa.

Fill out our short enquiry form now, and our immigration lawyers will offer you a free 15-minute consultation.

Eligibility:

Your child must be under 18 or in case of extension they have been living on this visa before 18 and is not independent or married yet.

The parent must be either:

British or Irish citizen,
Have settled or pre-settled status (EUSS) in the UK or have applied/applying for the same
Have limited leave to remain on any long term visa like Skilled Worker, GBM, full time student visa etc.
Have Turkish Businessperson visa or Turkish worker visa
Have protection status
Have permission to stay as a stateless person

Please see the exceptions in section (F) below if this is not the case for you.

Requirements

a. Relationship

Documentary evidence needed to prove this shall be discussed below in the documents section.

b. Finance

If the child is applying with the parent(s) as a dependant on their application
In this case the parent(s) will have to meet the financial requirements of their visa type.

If the child is applying separately from the parent
In this instance, the child will have to prove that their parent meets the financial requirement of their visa type and have sufficient funds to support them.

Documentary evidence needed to prove this shall be discussed below in the documents section.

c. Qualification (English language)

Child dependants do not need to meet this requirement.

d. Accommodation

The child must prove that they have a suitable accommodation meaning it is exclusively occupied by their parent(s) and meets any public health standards.

They may also share accommodation with any other person or family members if it meets the adequate accommodation requirements pertaining to the ‘space standard’.

e. Documents

Following is the brief guide on all the documentary evidence you will need to prove the above mentioned requirements:

Relationship: Personal statement of your parent & other relative if possible, address & bills to the address, bank statements confirming same address/ bank accounts, photographs together, communication proofs, custody or guardianship certificate from any government institute or court if sole parental responsibility and optionally any other document that comes from government, doctor, or any professional attesting to the parental responsibility. Marriage certificate or Civil Partnership certificate of your parent (if applicable). Additionally, Witness Statement from friends and family that support the child’s stay in the UK. Proof of cohabitation and any other supporting documents you may have.
Income: On behalf of the parent - Employment letter, pay slips, bank statements, dividend proofs, receipts, P60/P45 etc. (depends on different categories of employment).
Savings: Signed declaration of the source.
Accommodation: On behalf of the parent - Title Registry, tenancy agreement and letter from landlord for no objection, council tax bill etc.
Tuberculosis: TB test certificate if you are applying from a country listed under Appendix T.
Mandatory documents: This includes all the conventional documents for identity & travel like birth certificate of child, passport, current/previous BRP (if you are extending this visa) & passport sized colour photos of the Applicant etc.

Our associates will help you collate all these documents and make sure these are submitted to UKVI on your child’s behalf when they apply. Sign up through our enquiry form now to receive a free consultation on your matter.

f. Exceptions to any of the above

If the parent receives certain benefits (confirm the types from us) then the child do not need to meet the Minimum Income Requirement of their parent visa type, but they must be able to prove that their parent can support the housing costs without access to additional public funds.
If the child has lived in the UK for 7 years and their eviction is unreasonable, then the parent is exempted from proving financial & English language requirement.
The parent is also exempted from financial & English language requirements if their eviction or prevention from coming to the UK would breach their Human rights.

Application Timeline & Fees

Following is the Home Office fees & expected time for Child/Dependant visa decision that varies depending on where you are applying from & the route you are on:

Family Visa

Dependant of parent on Long-term Visa

Child of Settled person

Same for additional family members/parents in the family visa application.

Immigration Health Surcharge

In addition to the Home Office application fee, you might also need to pay healthcare surcharge under this route in order to avail free NHS -this is not optional and varies for several factors:

Adult 33 months £3,105 (this is when they apply for the first time/entry clearance)
Adult 30 months £2,587.50 (this is when they apply for an extension)
Child 33 months £2,328 (when they apply for the first time as a dependant of a parent)
Child 30 months £1,940 (when they apply for an extension as dependant/switch to this visa)

Urgent procedure

If you wish to skip the queue and get a faster decision from the Home Office, you can also choose from the following services:

Same for additional family members.

*The timeline & fees above mentioned does not include or specify our processing time for your application and legal services fee at any point, and it shall be conveyed to you after consultation.

Please note:

A decision may take longer if the Home Office needs to request additional information from you or verify your details with other government departments. You will be informed if this occurs.

In the event of a delayed decision, you will typically not receive a refund. However, you can inquire about obtaining a refund for your priority service fee.

Route to Citizenship

The time it will take for your child to gain British citizenship depends on the following factors:

Instant – This is when the parent is already settled in the UK (has been granted Indefinite leave to remain), the child can be granted ILR directly when they apply to join the parent.

5 year -This is when the child is a dependant on the visa application of their parent and the parent has successfully completed their 5-year qualifying period to gain the ILR, the child will also qualify for an ILR after having lived with their parent(s) for 5 years.

10 year -This is when the child is a dependant on the visa application of their parent who is on a 10-year route and the parent has successfully completed their 10-year qualifying period to gain the ILR, the child will also qualify for an ILR after having lived with their parent(s) for 10 years.

Rights & Limitations

During their time in the UK as Child Dependant they will be able to work or study.

Moreover, your Child Dependant will also be having free access to (NHS) Healthcare during their time in the UK, but this does not apply to prescriptions, dental treatment, eye treatment and assisted conception.

However, they shall not be able to access the welfare benefits from Public Funds until they reach the age of 18 & gain settlement status.

Start your Application

Take the first step towards your child’s future by starting their application with us. We understand that Child/Dependant visa requirements are complex, meaning it requires proper documentation and strong legal representations to support the application. Therefore, we highly recommend that you leave that to experts and relax! Our expert lawyers will guide you through the process, ensuring all documents are checked and the necessary evidence is provided to UKVI while addressing any potential issues.

Reach out to us at info@visamerch.com or fill out our short form for a prompt response and a free 15-minute consultation with our appointed immigration lawyer!

Source: Gov.uk

Full Name

Phone

Are you the Applicant/Sponsor?

Applying from

Frequently Asked Questions

We are here to address all your questions during consultations, however here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions:

Ask your question

Are step-children eligible to apply for Child dependant visa?

Play Video

Seamless UK Immigration Solutions Tailored for Individuals and Businesses

At Visa Merch, we cater to a diverse clientele, including individuals seeking immigration solutions, businesses aiming to sponsor migrant employees, and immigration firms in the UK seeking efficient outsourcing options to optimize their workforce.

Our Contact